MBB Unable to Overtake No. 3 Iowa State

Wednesday, January 7

Waco, Texas

7 pm

Baylor

10-4,0-2Big 12

Iowa State

15-0,2-0Big 12

Iowa St.

Baylor

MBB Unable to Overtake No. 3 Iowa State

1/7/2026 10:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bears fall to the Cyclones in their conference home opener in a close one

WACO, Texas – Baylor men's basketball held an early advantage but could not rally after a second-half surge by No. 3 Iowa State that proved to be the difference Wednesday night at Foster Pavilion, falling 70-60.

Baylor (10-4, 0-2 Big 12) led undefeated Iowa State (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) for much of the first half before an ISU last-second three sent Baylor into the break trailing by one. A quick start to the second half by the Cyclones created separation, and while the game remained within reach, the Bears were unable to close the gap.

Baylor turned in a strong defensive performance, holding the Cyclones to their lowest shooting percentage of the season at 40.6-percent, but the Bears also faced offensive challenges of their own, finishing the night at 30.6-percent from the field. Cameron Carr paced Baylor for the second straight conference game, leading all Bears with 17 points.

Caden Powell logged his third double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 boards, standing as the only Bear to reach double-digit rebounds on the night.

THE RUNDOWN
The Bears got Foster Pavilion roaring early with a defensive stop and back-to-back triples from Carr and Tounde Yessoufou, jumping out to an early lead over the Iowa State Cyclones.
Baylor's defense set the tone, holding ISU to just four points in the opening five minutes. Carr re-entered the game and immediately made an impact with a dominant block that led to Obi Abgim's first bucket of the night, keeping the Bears in front, 10-7.
After a brief offensive lull for both sides, Powell ended the drought with a putback to give Baylor a 15-13 edge and spark an 8-0 run, highlighted by two more triples from Carr.
Iowa State responded late in the half, chipping away at the lead and pulling within one with 2:36 remaining. A Cyclones three in the final minutes gave ISU its first lead of the night, sending Baylor into the break trailing 25-24.
Iowa State opened the second half with a 7-0 run to extend its advantage before Isaac Williams IV went coast-to-coast for Baylor's first points of the half, snapping a 14-1 Cyclone run.
The Bears continued to fight back, as Powell threw down back-to-back dunks to energize the crowd and cut the deficit to 10. A scoring drought by ISU allowed Baylor to pull within six midway through the half, but momentum swung again as the Cyclones rebuilt their lead.
Abgim knocked down Baylor's first three of the second half to keep comeback hopes alive, while James Nnaji recorded his first points in Foster Pavilion with a putback dunk late.
Powell finished the night as the lone Bear with a double-double, but Iowa State's early second-half surge prevailed, as the Cyclones secured a 70-60 win.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears are back at Foster Pavilion for another top-10 showdown, welcoming No. 7 Houston on Saturday at noon.

- BaylorBears.com -